Tuesday, 6th January 2009

News Archive

25th September 2005
Blyth Spartans' miserly defence took them to the top of the Premier Division on Tuesday evening when they kept their seventh consecutive clean sheet in the league at the expense of Whitby Town who even before their trip to Croft Park had been finding difficulty in scoring with just four goals in eight outings.

Spartans themselves haven't been exactly prolific in the goal scoring stakes with just eleven in their nine games but it would seem their fans don't mind as their gate of 460 was the North East club's highest of the season - all a far cry from the opening two games of the campaign when they picked up just one point! Blyth were joined at the top by Burscough who took all three points away at Radcliffe Borough with a fifth straight win that dumped their hosts on to the bottom of the pile as both Ashton United and Runcorn FC Halton won whilst AFC Telford United picked up a point. Ashton won again on Saturday to complete a good week whilst Borough put Ilkeston Town on bottom rung when they picked up a point at home to Guiseley. Previous leaders North Ferriby United went down at home in midweek to the season's surprise package Frickley Athletic who are only one win away from the top two.

Saturday saw the First Division's top two meet and Fleetwood Town opened up a four point advantage over hosts Mossley with a 1-0 win. The latter, in turn, are two points clear of third place Gresley Rovers who are finding it difficult to win away and they drew again in midweek at Bamber Bridge. Rovers are joined in third by Colwyn Bay who took a point on Saturday at Brigg Town who are unbeaten in five. Kidsgrove Athletic hit five on Saturday at home to Clitheroe and having beaten Rossendale United in midweek are up to fifth. At the other end of the table Chorley moved out of the bottom two when they won at Spalding United who are still searching for their first win. All five First Division clubs in the 2nd Qualifying Round of the FA Cup are still standing although only Rossendale are definitely through. Belper Town staged the comeback of the day from three down with ten minutes to go to earn a replay whilst there were also notable performances against higher ranking opposition from both Eastwood Town and Goole AFC. Premier Division clubs to overcome Conference opposition were Burscough and Witton Albion.

DEELEY GETS LEEK POST

Caretaker manager Nigel Deeley has now been confirmed as Leek Town's new boss in succession to Paul Ogden who resigned earlier in the month. The decision came after Leek lost on Monday evening for the first time under Deeley's stewardship with his first four games having brought two wins and the same number of draws. The 41 year old began his career at Manchester United before moving on to Plymouth Argyle, Chester City, Runcorn, Northwich Vics and Witton Albion. Now a coach with Manchester City's academy he has also been reserve team manager at Stockport County and did a stint as caretaker manager for County's first team after Andy Kilner's departure in 2001.
REFS APLENTY

When referees are injured in matches at this level it is often a difficult task finding a suitably qualified substitute assistant to run the line to replace the official who has taken over in the middle. No such problem at Fleetwood Town on Tuesday evening, however, when match referee Mr Drumwell retired with an injury at half-time in the game against Colwyn Bay.

By chance, the Blackpool Referee's Society was attending the fixture en masse for a "training" session and local referee Alan Young quickly stepped in.

BOROUGH SIGN BARRASS

Radcliffe Borough, who went bottom of the Premier Division following their 2-0 home defeat by Burscough on Tuesday evening, have signed 25 year old defender Matt Barrass from Football League neighbours Bury. Barrass made his debut for Bury in the 1999/2000 season and had almost a century of appearances for the "Shakers" under his belt prior to his recent release. He joins former Bury skipper Martyn Forrest at Stainton Park.

Stainton Park, renamed this season to the Inn2gether Stadium, had its highest attendance for many years last Saturday when North West Counties Division Two club Castleton Gabriels used it to stage their home fixture against the newly formed fans club FC United of Manchester. Very close to 2,500 spectators piled in with the proceeds setting up the Gabriels for the next two seasons at least.

NAZHA COMPLETES WAKEFIELD FOUR TIMER

Ossett Albion, in the midst of a striking injury crisis, have turned to Lebanese international hit man Wael Nazha, to see them through their problems. There are four clubs in the Wakefield Metropolitan Borough - Wakefield-Emley, Frickley Athletic, Ossett Town and Ossett Albion and Nazha has now become one of a very select band to have played for all four.

An injury to Danny Toronczak has been a major blow to Albion for the frontrunner bagged an astonishing 41 goals last season in all competitions. His knee injury is beginning to look likely to require surgery and Albion's forward problems have been compounded with Andy Farrell suffering a recurring hamstring problem whilst the club's leading goalscorer this term Dave Dickenson is also struggling for full fitness with a thigh strain. A fourth striker, former Ayr United player Michael Reynolds, is another who has been a victim of the Albion jinx leading boss Eric Gilchrist to move for former Cambridge United and Preston North End front man Michael Norbury from Belper Town.

BRIGG TOWN LIGHT UP

Having had one of their eight floodlight pylons blown down in last winter's gales Brigg Town have decided rather than just replace the one tower the club would upgrade the whole system. Work begins in October and will double the lux value as well as reducing electricity costs due to increased efficiency.

PHILLIPS OUT FOR RUNCORN

Last Saturday's win for Runcorn FC Halton at home to Wakefield-Emley was not achieved without a price. Mark Phillips suffered a bad break to his right arm and was due to be operated on last Wednesday.

SKIPPER SOWERBY STICKS WITH SPALDING

Much in need of a boost after failing to win any of their opening ten fixtures Spalding United received one this week when club captain Lee Sowerby turned down an offer from Stamford after a seven day approach from the Southern League club. 26 year old Sowerby, now in his fourth year with the "Tulips" and with 226 appearances to his credit, said "I'm going nowhere" prompting manager Steve Walsh to say "Sowers pledging his future to the club has given us all a boost. He is a model footballer who is a pleasure to manage".
KIDSGROVE LOSE WARD

Kidsgrove Athletic have lost the services of their contracted influential midfielder Julian Ward who has moved to Northern Ireland due to work commitments. If all goes to plan he is expected to be there for three years and it is understood that Irish League side Larne have already made enquiries regarding the International transfer window with a view to signing the player.

BURSCOUGH AWARD TONG A CONTRACT

Burscough have awarded a contract to Adam Tong, a close season signing from Fleetwood Town who, in turn, had signed the player from local football with Charnock Richard. The 23 year old's progress had been monitored by manager Derek Goulding for some two years prior to making his move during the summer and the manager's groundwork looks to have paid handsome dividends with Tong putting in some impressive displays in the centre of defence. He has also proved to have more than one string to his bow by recently scoring in three successive matches for the "Linnets".

BROOK USES OVER THIRTY

New Bradford Park Avenue boss Gary Brook who hadn't been involved in football since finishing at Ossett Town in 2003 until taking over from Carl Shutt at Avenue in the summer could be forgiven if he now had regrets about making a managerial come back. Brook has had a horrendous injury list to contend with including Tuesday night's game at Farsley Celtic where his latest signing, goalkeeper Scott Bissett, and Liam Flynn were the latest to leave the pitch injured. Bissett's departure meant striker Alex Nesovic donning the gloves for the second occasion this season during which time Brook has used the astonishing number of 31 players in the club's first ten league and cup games.

TELFORD HOST INTERNATIONALS

This coming Thursday, 29th September, sees AFC Telford United host two internationals in the UEFA Women's U 19's Championship. At 2.30pm Scotland take on the Faroe Islands whilst England kick off against Croatia at 6.30pm. Admission is £3 and just £1 for concessions.

Telford's loyal away fans, meanwhile, are to be rewarded for their unstinting support by the club subsidising their coach fare for the trip to Whitby Town in November by £6 a seat. The deal will be allocated to those fans who have travelled regularly to away games with any remaining seats offered on a "first come, first served" basis.

BELPER TOWN SHARE OFFER "NAILED DOWN"

Belper Town's recent share offer of 30,000 new shares was quickly "nailed" down with existing shareholders snapping up 22,500 immediately. The remaining shares in the "Nailers" are on offer at £1 per share with a minimum purchase of 100.

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